Match Stats: Rangers v NK Maribor – Advantage Taken With Progres Revenge Possibly On The Cards

With some Rangers fans reeling from the news of Josh Windass’ departure to Wigan Athletic and others celebrating, there was the small issue of a Europa League clash to remember this evening.

Rangers hosted NK Maribor in the Qualifying Third Round first leg of the Europa League tonight looking for an easier passage through this round than we’ve made of the last two but with plenty of confidence taken from the Premiership Aberdeen opener, hopes were high we could do just that.

And we did, goals from Alfredo Morelos, a James Tavernier penalty and a late strike from Lassana Coulibaly gave us a 3-1 advantage going into the second leg. Morelos had a second goal flagged offside as well so it could’ve been more in our favour.

The away strike is a concern so nobody will be complacent ahead of the away trip and I’m sure manager Steven Gerrard will get that message over to them, but fans were looking for improvement in our showings so far and they got that even if it couldn’t be described as perfect.

As long as we secure progression it will be Russian side FC Ufa or (please) Progres Niederkorn in the next round. The Russian side do hold the advantage in that tie though so our revenge may have to wait for another year.

Rangers				NK Maribor
Morelos (6), Tavernier (pen 50), Coulibaly (86)				Viler (40)
McGregor				Handanovic
Tavernier				Klinar
Katic				Tavares			79
Goldson				Suler
Flanagan				Pihler
Ejaria			78	Ivkovic
Arfield				Vrhovec
Candeias				Zahovic
Coulibaly				Bajde			63
Kent			87	Viler
Morelos			88	Dervisevic
Substitutes
Murphy			78	Cretu
Sadiq			88	Hotic
Foderingham				Vrsic			79
Halliday				Piric
McCrorie			87	Mesanovic			63
Kelly				Mlakar
Middleton				Uskokovic

Game Statistics
13	Goal attempts	12
6	On Target	3
7	Corners	4
9	Fouls	13
2	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
0	%	0